Akira Konoe elected Liberal Party leader: Kōhei Kanno returns as Deputy [07/10/2020]

INADA- Following several inconclusive rounds of voting behind closed doors, the Liberal Party has chosen Akira Konoe to helm the party, along with returning former DPM Kōhei Kanno to his position as the Liberals’ Deputy.

Konoe, 48, served as Minister of Technology and Cybersecurity under the Ninagawa, Yumizuru, and Yanagisawa Cabinets, and as Minister for Adminsitrative Reform under the short-lived Kita Cabinet. Following the Liberal Party’s defeat in the 2019 General Election by Yoichi Arikawa, Konoe, who held his seat comfortably, was appointed Shadow METI by then Secretary-general Gorō Kirigaya, but quickly turned against his boss to support the younger, more reform-minded Hitoshi Fujizuka.

Kanno, 50, served as Deputy Prime Minister under the Onodera and Ninagawa I Cabinets, and briefly as Konoe’s superior under Ninagawa’s first cabinet, which was dissolved in 2013- he declined to remain as DPM before the formation of Ninagawa II, opting instead to take the back-room position of Liberal policy advisor, before making a return to active politics following the Liberal Party’s loss of power in 2019. He is the older brother of the current Junior METI Yūhei Kanno, and the son of Liberal Party founding member Naruhiko Kanno (1940 - 2018).

With effect from 09/10/2020 midnight, Akira Konoe will replace the recently-retired President Akio Hayashi and officially be appointed by the Emperor as the 17th Leader of the Opposition.

THE SHADOW CABINET
Leader of the Opposition:
Akira Konoe (近衛　輝)
Chikahashi 6th District
48- MP since 2009

Deputy Leader of the Opposition:
Kōhei Kanno (菅野　弘平)
Fukuzawa 9th District
50- MP since 2009

Shadow Cabinet Secretary:
Satoru Hoshi (星　悟)
Fukuzawa Capital District
68- MP since 1999

Shadow Minister of Defence:
Hitoshi Fujizuka (藤塚　仁)
Chiyori 7th District
52 - MP since 2004

Shadow Minister of Finance:
Kazuko Abe (阿部　かず子)
Zenka Capital District
61- MP since 1999

Shadow Minister of Education:
Fumihiro Watanabe (渡辺　文浩)
Rushima 4th District
63- MP since 2004

Shadow Minister of the Interior:
Nagako Ishiguro (石黒　脩子)
Zenka 2nd District
49- MP since 2009

Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Yūichi Minase (水瀬　優一)
Fujii 6th District
36- MP since 2014

Shadow Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry:
Hanano Hiranuma (平沼　花乃)
Chiyori 11th District
43- MP since 2014

Shadow Minister of Health:
Yūri Tajima (田島　有理)
Watabe 10th District
58- MP since 2004